Running board



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1932.

/llllllllllllllllllllull' w n l l l a B. BRONSON Jan. 26, 1932..

RUNNING BOARD Filed March 26. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,Znvezzaf Iliff,

.VIII/1111.171

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTE OFFICE IBUDD IBRONSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO RUBBER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO RUNNING BOARD Application :tiled March 26, 1930. Serial No. 438,959.

This invention relates to vehicle running boards and more particularly to a strong and durable composite ruiming' board which is attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets ol drawings in which F ig. 1 is a top plan view of a running board embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is a partial sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 yof Fig. l;

Fig, d is a partial sectional elevation taken on line ali-l of lFig. l;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional elevation taken on line 5--5 of F ig. 1 5 and l? ig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation ot another running board embodying my invention.

ln the drawings to which detailed reference will new be made 1 have shown composite ruiming boards constructed according to my invention. lThe running board illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a metal body l0 of substantially rectangular shape, and strips of rubber or other suitable material secured to surface portions thereof. The top wall of this metal body is bent or formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending relatively elevated and depressed portions 11 and 12, or, in other words, the top wall oi the metal body is ot ridged or corrugated crosssectional shape. As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and el these ridges or corrugations do not ex tend the full length of the metal body but terininate somewhat short of its ends by merging into the flat portions of the top wall located adjacent the ends of the metal body. Along the edge of the metal body which is toward the vehicle structure the metal is bent downwardly to provide the longitudinally extending depending flange 13. Along the outer edge of the metal body, or the edge which is away trom the vehicle structure, the metal is bent downwardly to provide the longitudinally extending depending flange 14. At the ends of the metal body some of the metal is bent downwardly to forni the de pending ilanges l5. The ridges of the metal body strengthen and reenforce the running board, and give it a desired attractive shape. The depending flanges 13, 14 and i15 likewise strengthen the running board, and also provide means for attaching the saine to portions oi` the vehicle structure.

To the tops of the ridges or elevated portions oi the metal body are secured the longitudinally extending wear strips 16. These strips may be oi any suitable material but 1 prefer to make them of rubber which is secured to the tops of the ridges by being molded and vulcanized in contact with the metal. lf desired, additional means may be provided ior securing these rubber strips to the metal, in the form of rubber rivets 17 which are integral with the strips and extend through 'the top wall oi the ridges at spaced intervals. r.lhe strips 16 may have any suitable color, and when constructed of rubber I prefer to make them ot black rubber.

Intermediate the ridges 11 of the metal body I provide strips 18, of covering 1naterial, which are secured within the relatively depressed portions. Any suitable material may be used in these depressed portions, but l prefer to use strips of rubber of uniform thickness which are secured in place by being molded and vulcanized in contact with the metal. At their ends these strips are oined together and are Yformed integral with the portion of rubber covering which is vulcanized to the flat top wall portions adjacent the ends of the metal body. These strips of ma terial may have any desired color or finish, and when rubber is used I prefer to make them of white rubber to contrast with the black rubber strips 16 mounted upon the ridges.

When strips el? material are secured to the elevated and depressed portions of the inet-al body in the manner described, some of the metal of the ridges is left exposed or uncovered intermediate these strips. To protect the edges of the strips 16 and 18, and to give the running board a finished and attractive appearance, I provide trimming beads or strips 19 which are mounted upon the eX- posed portions of the metal body intermediate the longitudinally extending strips 16 and 18. These trim strips are preferably made of metal and may be secured to the metal body in any convenient manner. In the construction illustrated I show these strips formed of sheet metal bent to substantially channel shape around a metal insert 20. At spaced intervals along the strips, tongues 21 extend inwardly from the insert and project through the wall of the metal body so as to secure the strips in place. These trim strips may be formed of chromium alloy or may be so treated that they will have a decorative and hard, wear-resistingsurface.

Along the ends and inner edge ofthe metal body I provide strips of metal 22 having rounded bead portions 23 which overlie and protect the edges of the covering material. These metal strips may be secured to the metal body in any convenient manner as by means of the bolts 24 which clamp them to the depending fianges 13 and 1,5. Along the outer edge of the metal body a metal member is secured to the depending flange 14 as by means of screws 25. This metal member comprises an insert 26 and a sheath or cover strip 27 which is secured to the insert by having edge portions thereof bent around the edges of the insert. In cross-sectionthis member is of substantially annular shape and when secured in place one leggextends downwardly below the lower edge of the depending flange 14 while its other leg extends inwardly over, and protects the edge of the covering material secured to the surface of the metal body. To improve the appearance of the running board the bead portions of the strips 22, and the cover strip 27 of the metal member secured along the outer edge, may be treated so that they will have a decorative finish. If desired the material of the strip 27, or the coating applied thereto, may be such as to give this member a hard, wear-resisting surface characteristic.

For covering and protecting the end portions of the ridges, and portions of the wear strips secured thereto, I provide suitably shaped metal clips 28 which lit over the ends of the ridges. These clips are secured in place by means of screws 29, of a well known form, which extend through the wear strips and engage the metal wall of the ridges. To add to the appearance of the running board these metal clips may also be treated to give thema desired decorative finish.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings Il have shown another composite running board embodying my invention. This running board is somewhat similar to the one already described in detail, and comprises a metal body 30 of corrugated cross-sectional shape 1 having longitudinally extending relatively elevatedV portionsV 31 and relatively depressed portions 32. The tops of the ridges or elevated portions 31are formed with longitudinally extending channel-like depressions 32. Vear strips 33, of suitable material, are secured to the tops of the ridges so as to fill the channels 32. The top surface of each strip is rounded and is substantially flush with the metal beads 34; which form the edges of the channels in which the strips are mounted. Other strips of material 35 are secured between the ridges lin the relatively depressed portions of the metal body. Y The strips 33 and 35 may be formed of any suitable material, but I prefer to make them, respectively, of black and white rubber which is secured in place by being molded and vulcanized in contact with the metal. Some of the metal `of the ridges, including the beads 34,- is left exposed intermediate the black and white rubber strips. These exposed portions may be treated to give them any desired surface characteristic.

Across its ends, and along the inner edge of the metal body, some of the metal is bent to provide the integral rounded bead 36, and to form flanges which depend from the bead, such as the flange 37. Along the outer edge of the metal body some of the'metal is bent to provide the integral, longitudinally extending flange 38. The metal which forms this flange may be bent to any desired shape but is preferably rounded and provided with longitudinally extending beads 39 and 40. If desired, the bead 36 and the longitudinally extending flange 38 may also be `treated to give them anyvdesired finish or surface characteristic.

It will now be seen that I have provided a strong, durable and attractive composite running board, and while I have illustrated and described devices embodying my invention in a detailed manner, it should be under-f'` stood however that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise details. shown and ldescribed, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not involve a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A running board comprising a metal body having alternate relatively elevated andY depressedportions, the elevated portions of said body constituting spaced ribs each having a channel-like recess extending along the top thereof, strips of material secured in the recesses of said elevated portions, and other strips of material secured tosaid depressed portions.

2. A running board comprising a metal Vbody having alternate relatively elevated and depressed portions, rubber strips vulcanized to the tops of said elevated'portions, other rubber strips vulcanized to said depressed portions, and metalbeads extending between said strips. 'A

3. A running board comprising-a. metal body having a plurality of spaced ridges, strips of plastic material secured to the tops of said ridges, and ineans extending along and protecting the edges of said strips.

4. A running board comprising a metal body having a plurality of spaced ridges, strips of plastic material secured to the tops of said ridges, and metal beads extending along opposite edges of said strips, said metal beads .lo having a decorative linish.

5. il running board comprising a metal body having a top Wall provided with spaced ridges, rubber strips vulcanized to the tops oi said ridges, and metal clips arranged to l5 cover end portions of said strips and ridges.

G. A running board comprising a metal body having a plurality of spaced 1ongitudinally extending ridges, strips of Inaterial mounted on said ridges, strips of material secured to said body between said ridges, and longitudinally extending beads intermediate said strips.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiix my signature.

BUDD BRONSON. 

